takayoshi kitagawa builds parabolic-shaped shelves inside osaka apartment

named the ‘three cut laxx room’, takayoshi kitagawa and guy hirose have handcrafted shelves that hang from the ceiling in a U-shape- similar to a parabola. the designers de-constructed and cut kellax shelves from IKEA to achieve the desired shape inside an apartment in osaka.

‘first of all I thought in full scale. I started drawing diagram on a floor surface of a skeleton apartment with a gum tape. however, a physical sensation was not obtained on the floor. so I was led to the idea to drop the gum tape from the ceiling and draw a parabola and a diagram of it. the upper part of the parabola of the gum tape was a sagging wall that cut IKEA’s shelf kallax into a parabola.’ – takayoshi kitagawa

all images © daisaku oozu

designed like installation art, the shelving is located inside kitagawa’s parents’ home in osaka. having spent much of his childhood there and surrounded by his father’s precious collector items, the re-interpreted shelves is his solution to display the collection of items in an organized way. at the same time the shelves explore the fitting of objects and people using just three curved cut lines.

in order to build takayoshi kitagawa’s parabolic shelf design, the scale, method of assembly and the common materials needed can be achieved easily, allowing it to be replicated. the weight distribution of the shelf comes from the ceiling unlike regular shelves where weight is from the floor. here inside the apartment, they are organized in a diagonal angle to separate the room in a non-obstructive way.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save